Submarine and ship detector using reflected radio waves



June 18, 1946.

Filed Feb. :5, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR:

PO/VAZ 0 5. 5mm,-

BY zfi I ATTORNEY- June 18, 1946. R. B. SMITH SUBMARINE AND SHIP DETECTOR USING REFLECTED I QADIO WAVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1945 SUPERHE'TEROUYNE RECEIVER A U TOMATl C CODED TRANSMITTER #wATToRNEY.

June 18, 1946. R. B. SMITH 2,402,459

SUBMARINE AND SHIP DETECTOR USING REFLECIED RADIO WAVES Filed Feb. s, 1945 s Shets-Shet 5 .C) v I '3. 7

s l 1 -L I TO TPA/VSM/TTEE INVbINTO R Patented June 18, 1946 SUBMARINE AND SHIP DETECTOR, USING I REFLEOTED RADIO WAVES Ronald B. Smith, East Orange, N. J. ApplicationFebruar-y s, 1943, Serial No. 474,542

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for the effective detection of ships, planes, tanks and other objects, for example surfaced submarines, by the utilization of ultra high frequency waves emitted from a known source, such as one of a series of anchored buoys or strategically located land stations, and reflected back to such source by the conducting surface of the detected target, even though at a considerable distance away, for the purpose of automatically actuating a signalling means and thereby emitting a pre-determined signal, such as a code radio message or signal light, that can be picked up by a central station ashore, afloat or aloft, from which a vessel, plane, tank destroyer or the like can be then dispatched to attack or inspect the object so detected. Other objects of the invention are hereinafter set forth.

Heretofore, as I am well aware, it has been proposed as set forth in Patent No. 1,426,337, issued August 15, 1922, to provide submarine detecting means which included a buoy, normally held in a state of submergence by a cable, which was responsive to a change in depth and adapted to be rendered operative, when released, as it ascended through the water in which it was submerged. It has also been proposed, as set forth in Patent No. 1,150,799, issued August 17, 1915, to provide means for signalling the approach of a ship or like object, which included a submerged electrically generated magnetic field, adapted to be influenced by the approach thereto of a magnetic metal body, and a signalling instrument associated with the said magnetic field and adapted. upon the disturbance of such field to emit a signal. The effective range of such detecting devices is extremely short, as is apparent. The inclusion of devices, such as disclosed in these two patents, within the scope of the appended claims is accordingly specifically disclaimed.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and drawing forming a part thereof, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an essentially diagrammatic view of the buoy employed and a target submarine, the latter being shown with its axis alined with the path to the buoy merely to better illustrate the same, though desirably it should be broadside to the said path for most effective detection;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic detail elevation of the 16 Claims.

rotary variable condenser employed of the invention; A

Fig. 5 is a diagrammaticsectional view showing the manner of anchoring the buoy containing the transmitter to theocean bottom;

in one form Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the source of the ultrahigh frequency Waves at a shore installation; and V Y Fig. '7 is essentially adiagrammatic view of a still further modification wherein the antenna is partially enveloped by a directional reflecting shield.

Referring to the drawing and the construction shown therein, the reference numeral l designates a waterproof casing or shell which if employed as a buoy is so designed as to float awash with the greater part thereof invisible. A di-pole antenna 2, 2' is connected to an inductance mem her 3 which is attached thereto below the insulating separator 4. The detectingsignal to be transmitted from the antenna is inducedinthe inductance '3 by a combined receiving and transmitting unit of conventional type comprising variable grid condenser 5, with its associated inductance, the plate inductance 6, opposing contacts I, I, constituting one terminal of the primary circuit of a relay hereinafter referred to, and a radio tube 8 of the oscillator-receiver type whose grid and plate elements are respectively directly connected to oneiterminal' of said variable condenser and to one terminal of said plate inductance respectively. One terminal of a plate battery 9 is connected, via the frequency'choke m to the other terminal of the plate inductance; A variable resistor II" is interposed 'in' one lead of a bias battery I2 that is connected to one terminal of the grid elementof the tube8. One end of the primary circuit of a relay I3 is'connected to the other terminal of said grid and to the plate inductance 6, respectively, while the other terminal of the primary circuit of said 7 relay is connected to the inductance 6 at a point intermediate the same and the choke ID. A

grounded lead 14 is connected to thepivotally mounted fulcrum of the armature I l/of said relay, which armature is pivotally connected to the piston of a dash-pot I5 of conventional type that serves to prevent sudden rocking movements of the armature responsive to any wave actions on the buoy. Oppositely acting .coil springs I5 serve to normally maintain the armature I l in a; central position between said contacts I and I. The reference numeral I8 designates the main switch that is interposed in the filament circuit and the reference numerals l9 and I9 designate fixed or by-pass condensers.

A calling or code transmitter T, of conventional type, is inductively coupled, as shown, to the inductance 3, the same constituting the current supply line 20 that is controlled by said switch i8, a second relay 2| whose primary circuit is respectively connected to one lead of a storage battery 23 and to saids opposing iterminal contacts"? and l and which relay in conjunction with relay |3 controls the operation of the code transmitter. A second dash-pot 24 whose plunger is povotally connected to thearmature 26 of said relay 2|, which armature is adapted to alternately engage contacts 2'! and 27' carriedsby, the pivotally and yieldably mounted arm a and one lead of said switch I8, respectively. The coil springs 28 serve respectively to normally hold the armature 26 against. contact 21 and the arm a against the stop 29. Said dash-pot preferably "is so designed that oncecontact is made" between the armature 26 and contact 21 the return movement ofthe"armaturefifollowin'g the breaking of the circuit through the coil 2| requires-about one tofiveminutesfor its "completion. The line 29 connects the arm a with the filament of the "codetransmitter T and said line 29 is also connected, through line 30 to motor 3|whichdrives worm'shaft'32 that in turn drives a disk 33 which "hasacontact'hub' or ring'34 and carries'a series of peripherally disposed contact elements 34 electrically connected to said ring 34. Brushes '35" and 36 respectively co-operate with the ring contact 34'and' the contacts'34', the' latter serving to periodically interrupt the current transmittedby such brushesto the plate circuit of transmitter'T and thereby to eiTect the transmissiondf the'pre-s'elected code message. The B battery 31 supplies current to the plate of transmitterT anda conventional combined radio frequency choke and fixed condenser unit 40 serves to "by -pass the high frequency plate current around 3 battery 31. As is of course evident, other types of B batteries may be'employed if desired.

Assuming'the'parts' are in the normal inoperative po'sitionshown inFi'g. l'then; to operatethe apparatus, the switch [0 is closed arid thereupon the oscillator '8 em'its'short' wave signals of high 'frequency, de'sirably'between about'30 and"300 megacycles' or even more, corresponding to wave lengths offrom' meters to one meter or even less; but'inan'y event" of such a frequency as will accomplish" the most effective transmission of .the refiectedwave fronr the particular target'dependingurpon itsrsizeafid distancefrom the transmitter. Each wave so transmitted; 'upon striking the conducting surfaceof the target, such 'for" example as that of an emerged submarine, will -beinstantly reflected backtoits source and picked up by the di-pole-antennaZ, 2'. Since it will.of necessitybe either in phase or out of phase with the-sending signal, according to -the time required rto; travel to and. from the target, such :reiiected' wave'so received will cause a fluctua- -.tion inthe, plate circuit of tube 8 and a corresponding ,fluctuation in the current passing throughthe relay t3, thereby affecting the norimali balancemf, armature I4. Any increase in tthesplateicircuitwill. ca-usethe magnet of relay l3 to attract the armature I4, resulting in its movement. torthe left andinto. engagement with contact I, while any. decrease .in such plate cirlcu'it currentlas. a result of the unbalancingof the springs, will admit of said armature moving 10 mediately engages contact"2l,"thereby closing the circuit of the battery 23 through conductor 30, motor 3|, conductor 29 and the tube filament "of the-transmitter T, which latter then emits the calling signal. It is desirable that such signal tector transmitter. Furthermore, the dots and :da'shes or other. identifying means on the disk 33 with which such signal conforms are identified on a master chart (-not shown) at the central station or patrol station, each buoy or other detectingunit" being desirably assigned a different -cdde message.

"In the modified'form of-apparatus shownin Fig. 3, a'separate 'detectingtransmitter-and a separate detecting receiver are employed instead "of the combination receiver and transmitter shown in Fig. 1. 'In this construction 2,2 designate a di-pole antenna,the' upper and lower "halves of which'are'couple'd by an inductance b "wh0se'ends are connected through a grid'bias battery 0 to the grid and, through the plate battery d, to the plate of a' transmitter tube |03 whose filament is in turn connected to such antenna at approximately the middle thereof. "Said 3 inductance is connected by leads I05, I05, in

shunt, with a rotary variable condenser I06 and a rotor plate element/M01 mounted therebetween which is adapted to'be continuously rotated by "a motor I08 to thereby continually vary the length of the wave transmitted by the tube I03 and thus render it possible to'produce a desired pre-determined variation in Wave length in oscillator tube I03. The'filament of tube I03 is supplied from lines I22, "I22' (connections not shown) A receiver- I09 of any suitable typejde'sirably a superheterodyne' receiver; picks up the wave that 'is reflected 'from 'the target and isreceived by "-a second di-pole antenna I02, |02 and'such wave after amplification, is detected by "detector tube H0, The latterz'hasa'grid bias battery 0' and anplate-supply "B" battery d, the circuit of the latter battery being completed" through a "relay I, whose armature l'l is normally maintained :outof engagement with-arterminal contact M2 by thespring e.

An automatic coded transmitter; l5, generally corresponding to the transmitter T, except that it is equipped with its own individual antenna '60 H5 instead of utilizing, asin the case of transmitter T, the same antenna as thatby which theadetecting signals are transmitted and to which, as shownin-Fig 1, it is coupled byan in- Hductance. The line43 and grounded line ||'l respectively connect one terminat'ofthe battery 23. to the codedtransmitter l5. and tothe arma- .ture Ill of relay I, while ,-the- .lines ||8 and H! respectively connect .the. lead |20sfrom the other terminal of the-battery. 23 withacontact l2, via the .coil :01; relay-.2.|, ,.arid.with .the coded transmitter H5, via ltheharmature 26 and contact 21 of relay 2|. lTheiline |2Lconnects the line H! with switch l8. m'T-hesmotor leads I22 and. l 22' .are respectively. connected to dissimilar poles of batteries 0 and d and these leads are also respectively connected to receiver I09 and filament of tube H0.

In order to operate the modified form invention illustrated in Fig; 3, the switch I8 is closed and thereupon the oscillator or transmitflected, the amount of energy picked up by the antenna I02, I02 from antenna 2, 2' will not operate the relay III even if so detected by tube I I because the signal contains no beat note. On

the other hand, since the wave length of the signal being constantly emitted from tube I03 is being constantly varied by the rotary variable condenser I06, any reflected signal received'by the di-pole antenna 2, 2 are picked up by antenna I02, I02 and consequently, due to the homodyning of the sending and received signals in the receiver I09, 2. beat note corresponding to the differential between these signals will be detected by the detector tube IIO, thereby resulting in a surge of current in relay I II and the attraction of the armature I I I to the core thereof with the resultant closing of the circuit through contact I I2 and through relay 2I and the consequent cutting off of the current supply to the transmitter I03, the filament of whose tube is supplied from lines I22 and I22 (connections indicated but not shown in Fig, 3), and also to receiver I09, motor I08 and detector tube I I0. Simultaneously, the closing of the circuit through line I20, armature 2B, floating contact 21, line II 9 and transmitter I IE will be effected. Thereupon, the circuit through relay 2| will be completed in the same manner as previously explained in connection with the form of the invention shown in Fig. l and the current supply to transmitter I03, receiver I09, motor I08 and detector H0 will be cut off, while at the same time the circuit will be closed through line I20, armature 26, contact 2'! and line H0 which feeds the automatic coded transmitter H5. In both forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the breaking of the circuit through contact 27' and armature 26 results in the instantaneous de-energizing of the magnet of relay 2i and hence armature 26 commences to return slowly from its extreme position at the right, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3, and moves to-..

ward the contact 21'. However, since contact 21 is a floating contact, it follows the armature 26 and retains contact therewith throughout a major part of its return movement toward contact 2? and since such return movement is slowed up by the delaying device or dash-pot 24, preferably so as to require several minutes for the completion thereof, the automatic coded transmitter will continue to operate throughout the eriod that the contact 21 remains in engagement with the armature 26 which is ample to admit of a large number of repetitions of the complete call so transmitted being received at the listening post, whether it be ashore, afloat or aloft. gages the contact 21, the current supply to the coded transmitter will be cut oil and the parts of the apparatus will be in a position to receive the same or another reflected signal from a ship, plane, tank or other object.

of my The instant the armature 26 again en- As illustrative of the "beat note which is obtained withthe formof the invention shown in Fig.3, let'it be assumed that a wave of 30 megacycles-about ten meters-is being transmitted by transmitter I03 with a variation of 10% or 3 me'gacycles being produced therein by variable condenser I06 then, assuming a motor speed of 1800 R. P. M., the four'vanes of the variable condenser willproduce variations at the rate of 7,200 per minute or 120 per second which is equivalent to 360 megacycle sweeps per second. Since radio -waves travel approximately 300,000,000 meters per second, a radio wave of the above character would travel to and from an object 50 meters away in /3000000 of a second, during which interval the frequency would change 120 cycles, producing a beat note of this frequency. .The foregoing calculations'are merely illustrative as in practice higher transmitting frequencies might be found to be more desirable to secure best reflection results.

In Figure 5,. the reference numeral I29 indicates the body of water in which is moored the buoy IOI containing my. improved detecting and transmitting mechanism above described, I30 the I links of the mooring chain, I3I intermediate float transmitter, respectively, both of which may be of the construction disclosed in Fig. 1. Said reflectorand loop antenna are caused to oscillate to-and-fro by gearing connected to shaft I54, the same including pinion I55 carried by said shaft, gear quadrant I 50, that is independently mounted on a stub-shaft, link I51, gear I58, also independently mounted, Worm-shaft I59 and motor I60. As is evident, when the directional re- 'flectcr is employed the same is manually set in a position to best reflect the waves in the particular direction in which the submarine or other object to be detected is likely to be lurking.

My improved detecting system for spotting submarines and other objects such as herein specified, being automatic in operation, is always on the alert and since physical contact between the object to be detected and a cable or net associated with the buoy plays no part in the operation of my'apparatus the range of detection is far greater than in those cases wherein such physical contact is required.

In some instances, particularly if the series of buoys'associated with a central patrol station are so closely, distributed as meet up interferences therebetweemit may be desirable to provide each buoy installation with a wave filter adapted tofilter out all signals having a wave length or beat note different from that on which the receiving set of each buoy is designedto operate, in order to prevent interference or jamming between the signals received by the difierentradio receiving sets of such series of buoys. I

The arrangement of apparatus illustrated in the drawing is to be understood as being essentially schematic and merely for the. purpose of illustration of the principles involved as well as :thennanner of. assembly :01 :well .known:app aratus iltoisecureithe' application of 'su'ch principles-to .the :detection:ofrsubmarines and like objectsj inzac- 'cordance- :with my invention.

:Various :changes in :the construction and method herein set forth may be made without "departing from the spirit-of my invention as'emthe presence of submarines, planes or other object having an electrically conductive surface the detectionrof which is desired, the steps which comprise projecting an "ultra short wavei'radio 'signal against 'suchsurface of the-object to 'be detected icking up the radio signal reflected from'such surface at strategically located detecting Lstation, 'causing' the 'signal so. received to effect the transmission of a radio signal characteristic of such station and observing such latter signal at a distant central station.

' 2. In the method of automatically detecting the "presence of submarines, planes or other object having an electrically conductive surface the detection of which is desired, the steps which comprise projecting a plurality of ultra shortwave radio signals, each from a different one of a series of strategically located detecting stations distant from each other, picking up at one of such stations the signaloriginating therefrom and which has been reflectedback theretofrom such conductive surface of the object detected, and causing reflected signal to effect the operation of a different signal that is characteristic of the station at which such reflected signal has been so picked up.

3. In the method of automatically detecting the presence of submarines, planes or other object having an electrically conductive surface the 'detection of which is desired, the steps which comprise projecting a plurality of ultra short wave radio signals, each from a different one of a series of strategically located radio transmitting stations, picking up at one of said stations the radio signal originating therefrom and which has been reflected back thereto from such conductive surface of the object detected and causing the reflected signal to effect the transmission of a radio signal which is characteristic of the particular 'station whichpicked up said reflected signal.

4. In themethod of automatically detecting submarines, planes or other object having an electrically conductive surface the detection of which is desired, the steps which comprise projecting a plurality of ultra short wave radio signals, each from a different one of a series of strategically located radio transmitting stations, picking up at one of said stations the signal originating therefrom and which has been reflected back thereto from such conductive surface of the object detected, amplifying and detecting such signal and then causing the detected-signal to effect the broadcasting of a radio signal characteristic of such station.

5. In the method of detecting an object having an electrically conductive surface, the step which consists in causing a radio signal transmitted from and reflected back to a strategically located radio station from such conductive surface to effect the operation of an automatic signal which is characteristic of such station.

6. In an apparatus for detecting the presence of a" submarine, plane or other object having an els ct'ricallycc onductings surface, :the :c ombinati on comprising a strategically.locatedridetectingmtation equippedwith a radio-transmitter. andlsend- .ing and receiving antenna,.means;and, also-with a radio: receiving set, a second radio transmitter independent of the other transmitter and'means for causing a-radimsignal originally emanating from thefirst' transmitter reflected back from such conductive surface to the receiving: setto automatically effectthe operationcf the second transmitterand transmit a radio signal characteristicof that particular, detecting station.

'7. In an apparatus for detecting the vpresenceof a submarine, plane .or an-Jobject having an-electrically -conduct-ive;surface, the combination. comprising "a strategically: located detecting; station equipped with a radio transmitter and-Lsending and receiving 'antennameans and alsowith a radiosreceiving.set-and meansfor causing a radio signal originally emanating from the saidtransmitter and reflected back from such conductive surface to effect the operation of 'anautomatic signal associated with and characteristic of" said detecting station.

8.:In an apparatus for detecting the presence ofasubmarine, plane or an object havingan electrically conductive surface, the combination comprising a strategically located detecting station equipped withairadio transmitten-sending and receiving antenna'means, a radio receiving set also connected with said-antennameans, alsecond transmitter,aautomatickeying means for insuring the emission by such latter transmitter, when operated, of asignal characteristic of such detecting station, and means; for automatically setting the latter transmitter in operation upon the reception by'said: receiving set. of -a. signal originally emanating from the first transmitter andireflected back fromasuchconductive surface.

9..In vtin-apparatus for detecting the presence of a submarine, 'plane or other, object having an electrically conductive. surface, the. combination comprising a. strategically. located, detectingsta- 'tion, antenna 'means :carried thereby, anultra short wave radio transmitter connected to said antenna means, a'radio receiving set associated with such station and means, includingaa'local source of electricity, for effecting'the emission from-said station of an automatic repeating signal characteristic of such station upon'the reception by said'receiving' set of a reflected-radio sig- -nal which originally emanated from said transmitter and' has "been reflected? from the surface of the detected object.

'10. In an apparatus for detectin the presence of a submarine, plane or other'object 'having an electrically conductive surface; the :combination of a pluralltyof strategically located detecting stations, each equipped with radio-antenna means, an ultra short wave radio transmitter, a. radio receiving set,--and automatic means for emitting a signal "characteristic :of the particular station from which 'it' is emitted upon the reception by the receiving set' at such stationofa radio signal reflected from the surface of a detected object and which was originally emitted'iby the radio transmitter: of that particular 1 station.

'11. In an apparatusfor detecting the presence of a submarine, plane or other object having an electrically conductive surface, the-combination with a strategically located detecting station of antenna meanspan 'ultra short wave radio transmitter connected 'thereto, means. for producing a continual :variation: in the wave length :of the radio signal transmittedrlbyasaid;transmitter, a

radio receiving set of the superheterodyne type adapted to homodyne the ignal transmitted from said transmitter and the reflected signal from the urface of a detected object and produce a beat note which will be detected by the detector tube of such receiver and means responsive to a beat note so produced in said detector tube for automatically effecting the emission of a signal characteristic of such detecting station.

12. In an apparatus for detecting the presence of a submarine, plane or other object having an electrically conductive surface, the combination with a strategically located detecting station of antenna means, an ultra short wave radio transmitter connected to the latter, means for continually producing a variation in the wave length of a radio signal being transmitted by said transmitter, a radio receiving set of the superheterodyne type adapted to homodyne the signal transmitted from said transmitter and the signal resulting from its reflection from the surface of a detected object and thereby produce a beat note which can be detected in the detector tube of such receiver, a second transmitter including automatic keying means therefor and means responsive to a beat note produced in said receiver for actuating said second transmitter and the said keying device and efifecting the transmission by said antenna means of a radio signal characteristic of said station.

13. In the method of detecting the presence of a submarine, a plane or other object having a metallic electrically conductive surface, the steps which comprise transmitting from strategically located detecting station an ultra short wave radio signal of continually varying wave length, against a conducting surface of the object whose detection is desired, picking up the wave reflected from such surface at the sending source of such radio signal, homodynin the transmitted and refiected waves to produce a beat note and causing the resultant current impulses to effect the automatic transmission from said station of a radio signal characteristic thereof.

14. In an apparatus for detecting the presence of a submarine, plane or other object having an electrically conductive surface, the combination comprising a floating buoy strategically located on a body of Water, the same being equipped with 10 radio antenna means which project above the surface of such water and the principal portion of said buoy being submerged in such Water, a radio transmitter adapted to transmit ultra short wave radio signals from said antenna to an object.

means that limit the signal emanating from such transmitter to a signal characteristic of that particular buoy, a relay having a balanced, highly sensitive armature, said armature being responsive to surges of current in such coil, a local source of electricity for supplying current to the two transmitters, the receiver and said keying means and said relay, a second relay controlling the operation of the second transmitter and its keying means whose primary circuit is operatively associated with the armature of the first relay and adapted to be periodically opened and closed by th movements of such armature, said second relay having an armature which normally is in such a position as to prevent the operation of the second transmitter, means associated with said latter armature for delaying the movement thereof in one direction and thereby preventing the sudden interruption of the operation of the second transmitter and means serving to electrically energiz the primary circuit of the second relay of said relay and eiTect the operation of the second transmitter when a surge of current in the coil of the first relay effects the unbalancing of its armature.

15. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein means are provided for continually varying the wave length of the signals transmitted by the radio transmitter.

16. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the antenna means is equipped with a directional device.

RONALD B. SMITH. 

